I'm assuming that they are going to open up the away end for this test game against Widnes. I thought I'd have a gander to see what was left in the way of tickets and the seated sections are pretty close to a sell out. Only 200 or so seats left, which is not bad going, so unless Widnes have already been sold an allocation of seats they are all going to be standing.

Do you think the teams put out will be a true test or will it be more of an A team game with a few first teamers who need a run out?

Saints have already strongly intimated that they will field as close to a full side as possible (injuries permitting). It's our only friendly and so I would imagine Simmons will want to see how his new look team fare in their first outing together, minus Jammer et al. I think Widnes plan to put out a strong team also. After all, it's their best chance to see what needs to be changed prior to the league season starting. I don't think they have another friendly either after the Karalius Cup game although I may have misremembered that.

Yes, I think you're right. We've a lot of new combinations to try out, and only one match to try them in, so I'd expect to see a full first team squad in action.

Widnes have had seats and the away terracing availlable to buy. No idea how many sold but I know a lot where snapped up early but we still have some left.

I'd have thought 2 or 3 warm up games would have been a good idea. It would have give hohaia and lomax game time to work on the combination, we could also have laffranchci and flanaghan possibly playing new roles.

We ain't started our season well over past few years either.

If leeds showed us anything, it isnt how you start a season that counts

It certainly helps to start well, i think only Leeds and bulls have won it from outside the top 2, so it's good to geton a role and win.

I just hope we don't perform like Salford have for their first match at their new Stadium. They got slaughtered by Leigh and got booed off the pitch. We need a good start.

I think there is very little chance of us performing as it would seem Salford performed: namely, very badly (if the comments by Salford fans are anything to go by!). Salford have real problems as a club I think and some of their players, especially their NRL players, are lazy. As a team they should be embarrassed to be beaten by a Championship side who just a few months back were on the verge of extinction and don't yet have a formally appointed coach. But if their performances of last season are anything to go by, they won't let a matter of pride inspire them to play better!

Saints are in a different league. We may well lose to Widnes, who after all will have already played together as a team and have Superleague players in their ranks, but I don't think we will put out a bad performance. We will just be unused to playing our new formations. After all we have made some fundamental changes in the team's structure this season. So I'm expecting the usual start!

Really don't see the point in warm up games...

There is never any real intensity in them, so for me 'real' match day practice is limited in that aspect. Having just the one is fine though, just to get rid of a few cobwebs and the fact that it will be the first match at LP.

For me combinations are built on through training and then it can develop as the season progresses

I think it's more to do with the safety requirements for the new ground.

Long-range weather forecast for Friday 20th is showing one deg C and snow www.accuweather.com/ukie/forecas ... L&metric=1

Long-range weather forecast for Friday 20th is showing one deg C and snow www.accuweather.com/ukie/forecas ... L&metric=1